Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 47

Devas in Dvārakā, Brahmā’s Petition, and Uddhava’s Appeal

Prabhāsa Departure Set-Up

Devanagari script

वातवसना य ऋषय: श्रमणा ऊर्ध्वमन्थिन: । ब्रह्माख्यं धाम ते यान्ति शान्ता: सन्न्यासीनोऽमला: ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

vāta-vasanā ya ṛṣayaḥ śramaṇā ūrdhra-manthinaḥ brahmākhyaṁ dhāma te yānti śāntāḥ sannyāsino ’malāḥ

Translation

ننگ دھڑنگ رشی، تپسوی شرمن، اُردھوریتا، پُرامن اور بےگناہ سنیاسی—وہ ‘برہمن’ کہلانے والے آپ کے دھام کو پہنچتے ہیں۔

Synonyms

• वात-वसनाः: clad in air (sky-clad)
• वात-वसनाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of ‘ऋषयः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः (वात एव वसनम्/वस्त्रम्)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); सम्बन्धबोधक-यत् (relative pronoun)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• श्रमणाः: ascetics
• श्रमणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रमण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ऊर्ध्व-मन्थिनः: practicing upward churning (of prāṇa), upward-striving
• ऊर्ध्व-मन्थिनः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक; √मन्थ् + इनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः (ऊर्ध्वं मन्थनं येषाम्/ऊर्ध्वमन्थिनः)

• ब्रह्म-आख्यम्: called ‘Brahman’
• ब्रह्म-आख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of ‘धाम’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्म इति आख्यं)

• धाम: abode, realm
• धाम: Karma (कर्म/Object; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; resumptive ‘they’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• शान्ताः: peaceful
• शान्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शम् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• सन्न्यासिनः: renunciants
• सन्न्यासिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्न्यासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अमलाः: stainless, pure
• अमलाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

Purport

In Chapter Twelve of Bhagavad-gītā it is stated, kleśo ’dhikataras teṣām avyaktāsakta-cetasām: those who are attached to the impersonal feature of the Personality of Godhead must endure grueling penances in order to achieve impersonal liberation in the realm of Brahman. Also it is stated in the Bhāgavatam, āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ/ patanty adho ’nādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ. Kṛcchreṇa: with great struggle and trouble the yogīs climb their way up into the impersonal effulgence called brahmajyoti, but again they slip out of the jyoti and fall back into the material world because they do not take shelter of the Personality of Godhead.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava
• ṛṣayaḥ (sages)
• sannyāsinaḥ (renunciants)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the destination of renunciant sages?

In this verse, Kṛṣṇa says that peaceful, pure sannyāsīs—mendicant sages free from contamination—attain the supreme state/abode known as Brahman.

Why did Krishna describe sky-clad (vātavasanāḥ) sages to Uddhava?

Kṛṣṇa is instructing Uddhava on paths of spiritual perfection, highlighting the renunciant ideal—inner purity, peace, and disciplined yoga—as a means to reach Brahman realization.

How can the qualities of śānta (peaceful) and amala (spotless) be applied in modern life?

Practice restraint, simplify possessions, cultivate non-reactivity, and keep conduct clean—so the mind becomes peaceful and steady, making spiritual realization possible even amid daily responsibilities.